ItalyBuilt it up
Paolo Ardoino
Paolo Ardoino is CEO of the stablecoin issuer Tether and chief technology officer of its sister exchange Bitfinex; his fortune is his estimated stake in Tether.
- Forbes estimate
- $38B
- Forbes, 9 Oct 2026
- Forbes rank
- No. 56
- 9 Oct 2026
- Stake in Tether
- 20%
- Net worth, Bloomberg
- $18.2B
- Bloomberg, 30 Aug 2026
- Born
- 1984
- Northern Italy
- Education
- Not stated
- Computer science, University of Genoa
- Giving Pledge
- Not a signer
Where the fortune sits
Stake in Tether Holdings
Tether
stablecoins, founded 2014
Forbes' estimate; Bloomberg credits him with 13% after dilution and other reported stakes
Forbes estimate; Tether discloses no ownership, 24 Aug 2026
CEO
Bitfinex
crypto exchange
Bloomberg says he is a shareholder; the size isn't in the cited excerpt
Chief technology officer
Where Paolo stands among 73
Everyone on the site, grouped by their answer. Paolo Ardoino is outlined.
How the fortune started
Built it up
Built it up 8
Founded it 42
Inherited and grew it 12
Inherited it 6
Through marriage 5
Industry
Crypto
Crypto 2
Technology 24
Finance 10
Several industries 9
Metals and mining 6
Retail 4
Fashion and beauty 4
Media 3
Food and drink 3
Shipping 3
Oil, gas and chemicals 2
Healthcare 1
Casinos and resorts 1
Property and sports 1
Giving Pledge
Not a signer
Not a signer 61
Signed 11
Not stated 1
Education
Not stated
Not stated 11
Bachelor's degree 27
Graduate degree 24
Left university without a degree 6
No university 5
Role today
Runs the company
Runs the company 32
Chair, board or owner 25
Founder, no executive role 8
No role 4
Retired 4
The person
- Born
- 1984Northern Italy
- Citizenship
- Italy
- Lives in
- Not stated
- Education
- Not statedComputer science, University of Genoa
- Parents
- Not stated
What they give
- Giving Pledge
- Not a signer
- Foundation
- Not statedNo personal foundation in the cited sources
- Lifetime giving
- Not stated
Role and record
- Role now
- Runs the companyCEO of Tether; chief technology officer of Bitfinex
- Successor
- Not stated
- Public office
- None found
- Legal record
- None found
